Network lifecycle automation provider Infovista is working with VMware to deploy its Ativa Automated Assurance and Operations portfolio on the VMware Tanzu Application Platform (TAP). The move is targeted at accelerating communication service providers' (CSPs) cloud migrations by adding multicloud functionality to Ativa.

The Ativa suite replaces open source software and assurance systems that are siloed, fragmented, and focused on disparate domains like subscriber, service, network, and infrastructure with one cloud-native software suite of automated operations and assurance apps. The France-based vendor has been assessed by VMware Tanzu as “partner ready” and has verified the interoperability between Ativa and Tanzu Kubernetes Grid, which renders it able to fully manage support requests from customers.

Ativa is powered by Infovista's network lifecycle automation (NLA) cloud platform and is deployable on private, public, and hybrid clouds, along with virtualized data centers and bare metal environments. The NLA foundation of the Ativa suite is significant because it allows for the automation of processes and tasks that touch traditionally siloed systems, both within operations and across every network lifecycle phase.

In this way, Infovista claims Ativa lays a foundation for CSPs and enterprises to to optimize planning and decision-making based on return on investment and supported by live operational intelligence.

“The ‘cloud’ doesn’t automatically equate to agility, flexibility and scalability; it’s about having the right systems in place – which are cloud-native by design – to enable you to unlock the power of whatever cloud architecture you have to drive your own digital transformation,” Infovista CTO Yann Le Helloco explained.

This means previously siloed data needs to combine with “powerful automation” to create complete visibility, interoperability, and predictive automation in multicloud environments. “By validating Infovista Ativa for VMware Tanzu, we are ensuring that enterprises and operators can realize the full benefits of their cloudified network,” Helloco added.

The underpinning of the Ativa portfolio is its open and cloud-native platform that utilizes industry standard open APIs and software development kits to expand the pre-configured Infovista solutions available and allow its customers and partners to create their own apps or use cases.

Ativa Net is one application available through the suite that targets cross-domain visibility of network resources and infrastructure performance. This app also provides “rapid troubleshooting” by correlating network services, virtual network functions (VNFs), and infrastructure.

Ativa App is also focused on cross-domain visibility, but is targeted at subscriber-facing and resource-facing services. According to Infovista, this app preemptively monitors and troubleshoots quality of service (QoS) and service-level agreements (SLAs) across wireless and wireline environments. The Ativa Experience app is similar, but focuses on cross-domain visibility of perceived subscriber experience, which includes deep packet analysis.

Finally, the software suite includes Ativa Automated Ops for predictive analytics driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML); zero-touch resource configuration; service operations center workflow automation; and active testing and validation.